Squid Dissection
External Anatomy
During the external anatomy, we located the water jet, tentacles, arms, eyes, fins, and sucker disks. The squid has 30 sucker disks on each arm.
Analysis
1. How many arms does the squid have? How many tentacles?
The squid has 8 arms and 2 tentacles.
2. What is the function of the arms and tentacles?
The function of the arms and tentacles is to get food.
3. What is the function of the water jet?
The function of the water jet is movement.
4. Name 2 features that are adaptations for the squid's predatory life.
Tentacles, water jet.
5. Name 2 traits that the squid share with other mollusks.
Soft body, bilateral symmetry.
6. To what kingdom does a squid belong? What phylum? What class?
The squid belongs in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca, and Class Cephalapoda.
7. Name one other organism in the same CLASS.
Snails and Octopus.
The squid has 8 arms and 2 tentacles.
2. What is the function of the arms and tentacles?
The function of the arms and tentacles is to get food.
3. What is the function of the water jet?
The function of the water jet is movement.
4. Name 2 features that are adaptations for the squid's predatory life.
Tentacles, water jet.
5. Name 2 traits that the squid share with other mollusks.
Soft body, bilateral symmetry.
6. To what kingdom does a squid belong? What phylum? What class?
The squid belongs in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca, and Class Cephalapoda.
7. Name one other organism in the same CLASS.
Snails and Octopus.
Internal Anatomy
During the internal anatomy, we had to find the ink sac and smear some ink on our paper. After doing that, we had to find the esophagus, stomach (we cut ours open), anus, gills, gill heart, and gonad. If the gonad is white, the the squid is a male. If the gonad is yellow, the squid is a female. Even though our squid was really messy due to it's innards leaking out from its stomach, we were able to identify our squid as a male. Finally, we had to extract the pen from the squid. When we first extracted it, I mistook it for plastic. However, the pen stabilizes the squid when it swims, much like a backbone.
Observation and Analysis
1. How many gills does the squid have?
The squid has 2 gills.
2. Where does the ink sac empty into? What is its function?
The ink sac empties into the water jet, and its function is to help the squid escape from predators.
3. What is the function of the pen?
The function of the pen is to help the squid swim.
4. Where do wastes exit the squid? (Be specific.)
Wastes exit the squid through the anus and then out the water jet.
The squid has 2 gills.
2. Where does the ink sac empty into? What is its function?
The ink sac empties into the water jet, and its function is to help the squid escape from predators.
3. What is the function of the pen?
The function of the pen is to help the squid swim.
4. Where do wastes exit the squid? (Be specific.)
Wastes exit the squid through the anus and then out the water jet.